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I filmed this at Ft. Clarence Beach, Hellshire, St. Catherine, which was one of the most popular venues for stage shows in the 80s.
Desmond John Ballentine (born January 24, 1966), better known as Ninjaman, and sometimes as Don Gorgon is a popular Jamaican dancehall deejay and actor, known for his controversial and pro-gun lyrics and his stuttering and melodramatic style. In 2017, he received a life sentence for murder.
Born in Annotto Bay, Jamaica, Ballentine moved to Kingston at the age of 12. He launched his deejay career with the Black Culture Sound System at age 14 as "Double Ugly". In 1980, he joined the Killamanjaro sound system, where he got the chance to learn from established deejays Super Cat and Early B and released his debut single as "Uglyman". Yet another name change made him the now, well-known Ninjaman. In 1987, Ninjaman recorded - and produced himself - his first hit single "Protection", a duet with Courtney Melody. The following years brought many prolific collaborations with producers like King Jammy, Lloyd "Pickout" Dennis, Witty, Xterminator, Philip "Fatis" Burrell, Redman, Ini Kamoze, Bobby Digital, Augustus "Gussie" Clarke, and Steely & Clevie and Henry "Junjo" Lawes. It has been said that Ninjaman comes up with all of his lyrics on the spot in the recording studio, in a freestyle manner.
His hits over the years 1989-1992, like "Border Clash," "Murder Dem", "Permit to Bury" and "Above the Law" reinforced Ninjaman's image of a violent rude boy. One of his most infamous rivalries (besides the ongoing quarrels with Flourgon and Super Cat) was the one with Shabba Ranks, leading to a number of clashes.
In 1993, criticism of Ninjaman's violent and pro-gun lyrics arose, leading to a decline in performing gigs and chances to record.
By 1997, Ninjaman had changed his name once again, now performing gospel reggae songs as "Brother Desmond". He sought help to fight his crack cocaine addiction in born-again Christianity.
In March 2009, Ninjaman, along with his son Janiel, was arrested and charged in connection with the murder of Ricardo Johnson on Marl Road, Kingston, Jamaica. He was granted bail for the sum of JD$2,000,000 in March 2012 and was scheduled to appear in court on 15 July 2012. At least 58 jurors were needed for the start of the trial but only 15 showed up. The trial was rescheduled to start in April 2015 but was again postponed and rescheduled to start in January 2016.
In 2015 he parted ways with Downsound Records and opened his own Picture Frame Studio on Blackwood Terrace in Kingston.
On November 20, 2017, Ninjaman and his co-accused were found guilty of the 2009 murder of Ricardo Johnson. On December 18, 2017, Ballentine was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Dominic Kenny aka Dominic is an English vocalist and music journalist from London. He started writing about reggae music and Jamaican culture circa 1980 and contributed articles to Zigzag, Black Echoes, and NME. In the mid-1980s he relocated to Jamaica and became a Dancehall songwriter and vocalist.
Most people think of Snow as the first Caucasian male dancehall artist. Little do they know that prior to Snow there was Johnny Nice and even before Johnny there was Dominick.
Dominick, a British journalist turned deejay, got his start in the Jamaican dancehall thanks to veteran artist Peter Metro, whom he met during a performance Metro gave at Brixton Academy. Metro invited Dominick to come to Jamaica if he wanted to “buss” after Dominic told Peter that he was a deejay. It took Dominick a couple years to take Metro up on his offer but he eventually did. One of his most memorable tunes was “ Cockney & Yardie,” penned with Metro.
